As USA TODAY Sports discovered, this was an intriguing vantage point. There was much hustle and bustle, with the large platform behind the stage having the feel of a lobby lounge. During breaks between the enshrinement speeches or when they simply chose the option of stretching their legs at any point of the 3 1/2-hour event, the Hall of Famers mingled backstage. It was a lively place, complete with sandwiches, sweets and soft drinks.

After the introductions, another man with a link to Parcells showed up backstage.

The New England Patriots coach ran a practice session on Saturday morning, then hopped on a private jet with linebackers coach Pepper Johnson, who played for Parcells with the Giants. Belichick was Parcells' defensive coordinator when the Giants won Super Bowls in the 1986 and 1990 seasons.

"Got here as soon as I could," Belichick said. "Just wanted to come in and be here for this. It's Bill."

Before taking his seat in the audience on the floor of Fawcett Stadium, Belichick was whisked to the stage to have a few words with Parcells. After the show, he would immediately fly back to New England. Sunday was another practice day for the Patriots.

"It's training camp," Belichick said.

You'd expect that he will be back someday. To be enshrined himself. He has taken the Patriots to five Super Bowls, winning three.

"I don't know," he said. "This may be as close as I get."

Taylor wasn't the only Hall of Famer who took in the show backstage. Rickey Jackson, the former New Orleans Saints linebacker, did likewise.

After leadoff speaker Jonathan Ogden, the first Baltimore Ravens player inducted, finished his 14-minute address by thanking the fans of Baltimore, Jackson predicts that it will be the longest speech of the night.

Jackson is reminded that Parcells, Warren Sapp and Cris Carter all have a way with words.

During the break, there's a tap on the back shoulder.

It's Emmitt Smith.

The NFL's all-time leading rusher was critical of the new rule that bans running backs from using the crown of their helmets, when it was passed last spring. He still has doubts about how consistently officials will be able to differentiate between intended and incidental use of the helmet.

"There's no way to police it," Smith maintains. "You're going to see some shady stuff. There's going to be a lot of gray area."

The next speaker, former Green Bay Packers linebacker Dave Robinson, added some context about the Hall's milestone. He pointed out that growing up, he never dreamt of becoming a Hall of Famer because the Hall didn't exist until his rookie year in 1963.

Yet the Hall is so steeped in tradition now. Like the Friday luncheon, exclusive for the Hall of Famers. The luncheon is named for the late Ray Nitschke, who played alongside Robinson, and used to greet the new members of the Hall with a speech that outlined what it meant to be a Hall of Famer.

After Nitschke passed, former Los Angeles Rams star Deacon Jones took on the role of laying down the law to the new members. Jones passed away in June.

A couple minutes later, the all-time leading receiver in NFL history is demonstrating how he would get off the line of scrimmage against the big, physical Seattle Seahawks cornerbacks, Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner.

Sherman, he imagines, would have offered a special matchup if Rice were in his prime.

"I always loved to go against a cocky guy like that," Rice said. "I'd work him to death."

Rice can relate to the bad blood between the Seahawks and his former team, the San Francisco 49ers, gearing up to battle as NFC West frontrunners.

"It's like it was for us and the Cowboys," Rice reflects.

Darrell Green, the former Washington Redskins cornerback, hangs backstage after Allen's speech. His son, Jared, is trying to stick with the Cowboys as a free agent receiver.

Steve Young, the former 49ers quarterback, overhears the chatter.

"Say what?" Young says.

Yes, the son of a Redskins legend is trying to make it with the Cowboys.

How's he doing?

"We'll find out tomorrow night," Green says.

The Cowboys are playing against the Miami Dolphins in the Hall of Fame Game.

Now Parcells is at the podium, and early into a speech that extends beyond 20 minutes, he mentions Taylor.

Says Parcells: "When they put my bust in the Hall … I'd like to be somewhere near Lawrence Taylor, so I can keep an eye on that sucker."

If Parcells could see Taylor at that instant, he would have seen him sitting backstage between Johnson and Jackson, with his legs stretched out. He is beaming.

"I've heard that before," Taylor says of Parcells' punch line.

Parcells never mentioned his former quarterback, Phil Simms or the late George Young, the former general manager, by name. But Steve Young got a shout-out. Parcells quoted the rival quarterback's theory that the locker room is a laboratory for human behavior.

Young was stunned to hear his name, despite the worthiness of an observation that he has repeated over the years.

NFL former head coach Bill Parcells and New York Giants former player George Martin unveil Parcells' bust during the 2013 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement at Fawcett Stadium.
Andrew Weber, USA TODAY Sports